Apparatus for manipulating shrouds for beds



May 3, 1966 J. c. AUTEN 3,248,743

APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING SHROUDS FOR BEDS Filed Feb. 24, 1965 2. Sheets-Sheet l lied ZZ- Ja 4: A??? l7 7 rarlvz/s.

APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING SHROUDS FOR BEDS Filed Feb. 24, 1965 J. C. AUTEN May 3, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

5 H. MJWWMHHHH u r ||L H n MM MU? HMWMMMHM WMHHHMHuflhrrn l Wmhmnm WM 7 I r I I l II V I l I l I l I l l I l l I I I 1| M Y Z j m n M a, G M A; 1 Z J I W 4 2% \h A a A 4 W E v 4 I n @F 4 4 4 I Z 47 a J I n 5 M Z I IWWI z E United States Patent APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING SHROUDS FOR BEDS The present invention relates to apparatus for manipuljatjirslg shrouds for beds and more particularly for hospital I e In the care of certain types of patients it is frequently required that the patient be located in a crib-type bed which, in general, has four upwardly extending sides each with a plurality of bars, and in which the top of the sides is covered by a shroud of a strong net or mesh construction. It has been past practice in hospitals to have at least one side, two corners, of the shroud permanently tied or fixed to the adjacent side or two legs of the bed and to have the opposite side, opposite two corners, removably tied to that adjacent bedside or legs. Normally the corners on the one side are removed only when it is necessary to remove the shroud for replacement, bed maintenance, etc; hence, the phrase permanently tied refers to a connection which can be unfastened if necessary. Thus, in caring for a patientin such a bed construction, it is necessary for the attendant first to untie the one or both of the removably secured corners of the shroud before the patient can be reached for the administration of medicinal or other type of care. After the patient has been administered to, the end or ends which were undone must again be secured by the attendant. In many cases the patients being thus cared for are mentally disturbed and hence it is extremely important that these ends be secured in a manner and location such as to preclude the patient from releasing himself. Considering that each of these patients must be administered to several times over the course of a 24-hour period, it can. be appreciated that the time required merely to manipulate the shroud is substantial. Of equal or greater importance is the possibility that injury or even death of the patient could result in emergency situations in which it would be necessary to reach the patient in a minimum amount of time and the patient could not be reached because of the time required to release the shroud. In the present invention a combination is provided in which the free end or ends of the shroud can be secured'and released in a fraction of the time presently required, thereby resulting in a saving both in hours required and'also in the possible saving of human life.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manipulating shrouds for beds.

It is another object of the present invent-ion to provide a quick release and securing mechanism in combination with a hospital bed and a shroud whereby the time required for releasing or securing one or more free ends of the shroud is reduced substantially over that normally required.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a quick release and securing mechanism for shrouds for hospital beds which cannot be operated by a patient located within the bed.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the combination of a crib-type hospital bed, shroud and two quick release and securing mechanisms;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view with some parts shown broken away of one of the quick release and securing mechanisms of FIGURE 1 taken generally in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIGURE 1 and shown in its secured condition;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus in FIGURE 2 taken generally along the line 33 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view taken generally along the line 4 4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a partial view similar to that of FIGURE 2 depicting the apparatus in its released condition;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 2 depicting a modification of the apparatus of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to thatof FIGURE 2 depicting a second modification of the apparatus of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 7 taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

Looking now to FIGURE 1, a hospital bed of the crib type is generally indicated by the numeral .10 and is provided with a plurality of legs 12, 13 and upwardly extending sides 15 each having a plurality of vertical bars. A net-type shroud 14 is provided with attaching cords 16 and 18 at its corners and is shown covering the top of the sides 15; two corners are permenently secured to two legs .13 by cords 16 and the other two corners are releasably connectible to the other legs 12 via quick release and securing mechanism 20 by cords 18.

The release mechanism 20 can be mounted upon an existing leg 12 without modification of the leg structure and for this purpose is provided with lower and upper mounting brackets 22 and 24 which grip the leg 12. A hollow post 26 is fixedly held between the mounting brackets 22 and 24 at a point slightly offset from the associated leg 12. The post 26 is of a generally rectangular 'cross section and for the most part has a smooth external surface and is provided along its outwardly facing surface with a plurality of opening-s or V-shaped grooves 28. The 'V-shaped grooves 28 face outwardly and slightly downwardly for a purpose to be presently understood.

A generally hollow housing 30 is provided with a channel 36 in its rear-ward surface for receiving the post 26. A pair of brackets 38 and 40 located at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the channel 36 are used to secure the housing 30 to the post 26 whereby the housing 30 can be slidably moved freely upwardly and downwardly. The housing 30 at its upper forward end is provided with a forwardly extending portion 42 having a forwardly and downwardly inclined slot 44 for receiving a looped end of the cord 18 of the shroud 14. It can be appreciated that with the corners of the shroud 14 being pulled tightly with the loop of cord 18 located within "the slot 44, it will 'be impossible to remove the loop of cord 18 from the groove 44 without first moving the housing 30 upwardly in a manner to be described. It can also be appreciated that the tension on the shroud 14 can be increased by moving the mechanism 20 downward- The housing 30 is provided with a second forwardly extending portion 46 at its lower end which has a cavity 48 which communicates with the slot 36. Proxirnate the lower extremity of the housing portion 46 is located a pad 50 which can be foot-engaged for a purpose to be presently described.

Located within the cavity 48 is an elongated pawl 52 having a generally V-shaped tooth portion 54 in an enlarged head section 56 with the tooth portion 54 being of a shape to matably engage within the V-shaped grooves 28. The pawl 52 is pivotally secured at its lower extremity via a pin structure 58. The pawl 52 has a generally arcuate cam groove 60 in which a cam actuating pin 62 is located; pin 62 extends outwardly at opposite sides of the housing portion 46 and is also located within a cam groove 64 provided in opposite sides of the.

housing portion 46. The grooves 60 and 64 extend upwardly and forwardly; however, with the pawl 52 located in the position shown in FIGURE 2, the groove 60 is located slightly behind the groove 64. Also the lower portion of the groove 60 is slightly enlarged and defines a cam shoulder 63 which initially engages the pin 62. As the pin 62 is moved upwards along the groove 64 two components of force are provided to act upon the pawl 52 via the groove 68 and shoulder 63; one component tends to move the pawl, and hence the entire housing 30, generally upwardly and another component of force tends to pivot the pawl 52 generally forwardly about the pivot 58. However, because of the downward inclination of the grooves 28 and because of the matable engagement of the tooth portion 54 therein, the upwardly directed component of force tends to further engage the tooth portion 54 within one of the grooves 28 while the component tending to pivot the pawl 52 will not be sufficient to withdraw the tooth portion 54 from that groove 28. In fact, with the construction as shown, before pivotal movement of the pawl 52 can be elfectuated it must be physically moved downwardly until the tooth portion 54 is in clearance relationship with the associated groove 28. Thus the simultaneous occurrence of two forces is required to release the pawl 52; first the pawl 52 must be moved downwardly until the tooth portion 54 clears the groove 28 and next the pin 62 must be moved upwardly to pivot the pawl 52 forwardly.

To effectuate the latter action, a lock release arm 66 is provided and has an enlarged head portion 68, which in the lower position of arm 66 is located proximate to a flat shelf portion 70 at the upper end of the housing portion 46. The release arm 66 has a pair of legs 72 which extend downwardly through an opening 74 through the shelf 70 and extend into the cavity 48; the legs 72 are extended to opposite sides of the pawl 52 and are secured to the pin 62. Thus, the upward and downward movement of pin 62 can be elfectuated by the manipulation of the lock release arm 66 via the head 68. A return spring 76 has one end located within a pocket 78 in the forward upper end of the pawl 52 and has its opposite end centered about a protrusion 80 extending into the cavity 48; the return spring 76 is biased to normally urge the pawl 52 to pivot in the rearward direction with its tooth portion 54 in engagement with one of the grooves 28.

A return spring 82 is located within the hollow post 26 and has its upper end fixed to a pin 84 and has its lower end fixed to a pin 86 fixed to housing 30 and extending through the slot 36. The pin 86 extends through a pair of oppositely disposed vertically extending slots 88 located on opposite sides of the post 26. The return spring 82 is biased to normally urge the housing assembly 30 upwardly along the post 26. Thus, with the spring 76 normally urging the pawl 52 to pivot rearwardly with its tooth 54 into engagement with one of the grooves 28, the return spring 82 will maintain the tooth 54 in engagement with this one of the grooves 28 by means of the upward force exerted on the housing assembly 30 and hence upon the pawl 52 itself. Thus, in order to release the mechanism, first a downward force must be exerted upon the housing 30 to overcome the bias of spring 82 and to move the pawl 52 to a position where the tooth 54 is in clearance relationship with that associated one of the grooves 28. This can be done by the foot of the operator against the pad 50. Once in this position, the pawl 52 can be pivoted forwardly to a clearance position (as shown in FIGURE by merely pulling up on the release arm 66 via the head 68, and hence permitting upward movement of the housing 30. The clearance at the bottom of groove 60 is provided to permit the pawl 52 to pivot forwardly and in clearance relation with grooves 28 upon downward movement only of the body 30. Thus, while release of the pawl 52 requires the simultaneous application of two forces, its engagement to lower positions along the post 26 can be effectuated merely by a downward force on body 30 via foot pad 50 or head 68. Thus, tensioning of the shroud 14 via the cord 18 is simply accomplished by a single operation, that is by pressing down upon the foot pad 50 or head 68. Note that both tensioning and release of shroud 14 can be accomplished in a matter of a few seconds.

It can be seen that with the arrangement of parts as previously described, it would be impossible for a patient located in the bed 10 to manipulate the apparatus 20. In this regard, the foot pad 50 and in fact the entire housing 30 can be located at a point inaccessible to a person within the bed 10 and certainly inaccessible to the simultaneous application of both forces required for release; note also that the spring bias of spring 82 can be provided to be substantial such as to be easily overcome by the use of the operators foot but impossible to operate by hand. Thus it would be impossible for a patient to apply the dual forces required to release the mechanism. If necessary, the release arm 66 could be covered such as to make it accessible only from the forward end and hence to further insure that a patient in the bed 10 would be unable to reach the head 68 to manipulate the release arm 66. Note that in the embodiment just previously shown and described, use of at least two simultaneous forces or movements is required; in FIGURE 6 a modification of the apparatus of FIGURES 2-5 is shown requiring three operations.

In the description of the apparatus of FIGURE 6, parts serving like functions to like apparatus of FIGURES 25 have been given the same numeral designation with the addition of a letter subscript .a. The release arm 66a has legs 72a which are provided with forwardly projecting portions 90 at their lower extremities which define thereby shoulders 92. The shoulders 92 are engageable with a lock pin 94 which is located within a generally horizontal slot 96 in the housing portion 46 which communicates with the cavity 48. Thus, before the release arm 66a can be moved upwardly whereby the pawl 52a can be pivoted forwardly, the lock pin 94 must first be moved forwardly by the operator; the lock pin 94 could be provided with a shield whereby it is completely inaccessible to a patient within the bed. Note that groove 96 can be provided to give sulficient clearance to accommodate the arc traversed by pin 94.

In FIGURES 7 and 8 is shown a further modification in which the components similar to those in FIGURE 6, and in FIGURES 2-5 and serving similar functions are given the same numerical designation with the addition of a letter subscript b. In FIGURE 7 the locking pin 94b is secured to the forward end of a pair of pivot bar members 98 which are located in cavity 48b and are pivoted at their lower extremities on the pivot pin 58b along with the pawl 52b. The bars 98 are maintained normally in their rearward position by means of a spring 100 which acts on a block 101 connecting the bars 98 and hence the locking pin 94!; is maintained in its rearw'ard position in engagement with the shoulders 92b. Thus in the manipulation of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, it is necessary that the operator employ three simultaneous operations; the first is to depress the foot pad (similar to the pad 50); the next is to pull the locking pin 94b forwardly and hold it there; and the third is to pull up on the release arm 6612. All three must be performed simultaneously before release can be effectuated. Thus, even if the patent could get two hands on the mechanism 2%, he could not release it. Note that the pin 92b extends outwardly slightly from one side as at 102; the extension of 102 is sutficient to permit actuation but not adequate enough to facilitate gripping whereby downward movement of housing 3011 could be efiectuated.

It can be seen with any of the three embodiments the actuation of the mechanisms 28, 20a or 20]) is rapid,

requiring at most only a few seconds, thus reducing the time of manipulation to a mere traction of that required by the conventional means of tying and untying; in addition to the obvious savings in time realized, quick access to the patient is provided and hence possible loss of life or injury as a result of delay is prevented.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair movement toward said first position and for loosening said shroud upon movement toward said second position, and lock means having one selectable condition for locking said first and second means together at said selected positions and a second selectable condition for releasing said'first and second means for relative movement.

2. Apparatus for a bed having upwardly extending sides comprising: a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, first means operatively fixed .with'the bed, second means supported on said first means for selective movement on said first means to selected positions between a first and a second position and for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement toward said first position and for loosening said shroud uponmovement toward said second position, and lock means having one selectable condition for locking said first and second means together at said selected positions and a second selectable condition for releasing said first and second means for relative movement, said lock means including lock release means selectively actuable for placing said lock means in said second condition.

3. Apparatus for a bed having upwardly extending sides comprising: a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the, top-of the sides, first means operatively fixed with the bed, second means supported on said firstmeans for selective movement on said first means to selected positions between a fir st and a second position and for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement toward said first position and for loosening said shroud upon movement toward said second position, and lock means having one selectable condition for locking said first and second means together at said selected positions and a second selectable condition for releasing said first and second means for relative movement, with said second means being selectively movable toward said first position with said lock means in said one condition, said lock means includinglock release means selectively actuable withsaid second means maintained in a position between adjacent ones of said selected positions for placing said lock means in said second condition.

4."Apparatus for a bed having upwardly extending sides comprising: a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, first means operatively fixed with the bed, second means supported on said first means for selective movement on said first means to selected .positions between a first and a second position and for release means selectively actuable with said second means maintained in a position between adjacent ones of said selected positions for placing said lock means in said second condition, and means operatively connected with said lock release means for normally preventing actuation of said lock release means and selectively movable to a condition permitting actuation of said lock release means.

5. Apparatus for a bed having upwardly extending sides comprising: a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, first means operatively fixed with the bed, second means supported on said first means for selective movement on said first means to selected positions between a first and a second position and for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement toward said first position and for loosening said shroud upon movement toward said second position, and lock means having one selectable condition for locking said first and second means together at said selected positions and a second selectable condition for releasing said first and second means for relative movement, said lock means including a plurality of openings between said first and second positions, and a member engaged with one of said openings in said one condition and disengaged from said openings in said second condition.

6. Apparatus for a bed having upwardly extending sides comprising: a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, first means operatively fixed with the bed, second means supported on said first means for selective movement to selected positions between a first and a second position and for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement toward said first position and for loosening said shroud upon movement toward said second position, and lock means having one selectable condition for locking said first and second means together at said selected positions and a second selectable condition for releasing said first and second means for relative movement with said second means being selectively movable toward said first position with said lock means in said one condition, said lock -means including a plurality of openings between said first and second positions, and a member engaged with one of said openings in said one condition and disengaged from said openings in said second condition, and a lock release arm inoperable with said second means in one of said selected positions and selectively actuable with said second means maintained in a position between adjacent ones of said selected positions for disengaging said member from said openings and hence for placing said lock means in said second condition.

7. In a bed having upwardly extending sides and a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, apparatus comprising: a longitudinally extending post fixed with the bed and having a plurality of openings in one surface, a housing supported on said post for movement to selected ones of said openings and having means for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement in one direction along said post and for loosening said shroud upon-movement in an opposite direction, a pawl pivotally supported on said housing and having a head portion engageable with said openings for locking said housing and said post together, means urging said pawl into engagement With said openings, and a release arm movably supported on said housing and operatively connected with said pawl and selectively actuable for moving said pawl out of engagement with said openings.

8. In a bed having upwardly extending sides and a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, apparatus comprising: a longitudinally extending post fixed with the bed and having a plurality of openings in one surface, a housing supported'on said post for movement to selected ones of said openings and having means for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement in one direction along said post and for loosening said shroud upon movement in an opposite direction, a pawl pivotally supported on said housing and having a head portion engageable with said openings for locking said housing and said post together, means urging said pawl into engagement with said openings, a release arm movably supported on said housing and operatively connected with said pawl and selectively actuable for moving said pawl out of engagement with said openings, and means onsaid head portion of said pawl and said openings for preventing movement of said pawl by said release arm out of engagement with said openings unless said housing has been moved a preselected distance in said one direction.

9. In a bed having upwardly extending sides and a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, apparatus comprising: a longitudinally extending post fixed with the bed and having a plurality of openings in one surface, a housing supported on said post for movement to selected ones of said openings and having means for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement in one direction along said post and for loosening said shroud upon movement in an opposite direction, a pawl pivotally supported on said housing and having a head portion engageable with said openings for locking said housing and said post together, means urging said pawl into engagement with said openings, a release arm movably supported on said housing and operatively connected with said pawl and selectively actuable for moving said pawl out of engagement with said openings, means on said head portion of said pawl and said openings for preventing movement of said pawl by said release arm out of engagement with said openings unless said housing has been moved a preselected distance in said one direction, and means operatively connected with said release arm for normally preventing actuation of said release arm and selectively movable to a condition permitting actuation of said release arm.

10. In a bed having upwardly extending sides and a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, apparatus comprising: a longitudinally extending post fixed with the bed and having a plurality of openings in one surface, a housing supported on said post for movement to selected ones of said openings and having means for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement in one direction along said post and for loosening said shroud upon movement in an opposite direction, a pawl pivotally supported on said housing and having a head portion engageable with said openings for locking said housing and said post together, means urging said pawl into engagement with said openings, a release arm movably supported on said housing and operatively connected with said pawl and selectively actuable for moving said pawl out of engagement with said openings,and means on said head portion of said pawl and said openings for preventing movement of said pawl by said release arm out of engagement with said openings unless said housing has been moved a preselected distance in said one direction and operatively connected with said release arm and normally, resiliently urged into a position for preventing actuation of said release arm and selectively movable to a position permitting actuationof said release arm.

11. In a bed having upwardly extending sides and a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, apparatus comprising: a longitudinally, vertically extending post fixed with the bed and having a plurality of outwardly facing, downwardly inclined grooves in one surface, a housing supported on said post for movement to selected ones of said grooves and having means for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement downwardly along said post and for loosening said shroud upon movement upwardly, a pawl pivotally supported on said housing and having a tooth portion matably engageable with said grooves for locking said post together, ,first spring means urging said pawl toward said post and into engagement with said grooves, second spring means for urging said housing upwardly and hence for urging said tooth portion against a mating surface of said grooves, and a release arm movably supported on said housing and operatively connected with said pawl and selectively actuable for moving said pawl out of engagement with said grooves.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 with said means for engaging said shroud including a forwardly, downwardly extending groove for receiving a cord of said shroud and being of a preselected length whereby with said shroud tensioned said cord cannot be removed from said groove.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including a flat, horizontal pad portion on said housing for engagement by a per-sons foot.

14. In a bed having upwardly extending sides and a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, apparatus comprising: a longitudinally, vertically extending post fixed with the bed and having a plurality of outwardly facing, downwardly inclined grooves in one surface, a housing supported on said post for movement to selected ones of said grooves and having means for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement downwardly along said post and for loosening said shroud upon movement upwardly, said housing having an upwardly extending, outwardly inclined first cam surface, a pawl pivotally supported on said housing and having a tooth portion matably engageable with said grooves for locking said housing and said post together, first spring means urging said pawl toward said post and into engagement with said grooves, second spring means for urging said housing upwardly and hence for urging said tooth portion against a mating surface of said grooves, a release arm movably supported on said housing, a cam member secured to said release arm and engageable with said first cam surface for movement therealong in response to movement of said release arm, said pawl having a second cam surface engageable by said cam member and extending between said first cam surface and said post whereby movement of said release arm upwardly moves said cam member along said first cam surface and along said second cam surface for urging said pawl outwardly out of engagement with said grooves.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 with said second cam surface having an outwardly, downwardly inclined portion engageable with said cam member when said release arm is in its normal, unactuated position.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 with said pawl having clearance for said cam member at the lower end of said second cam surface whereby said pawl can pivot outwardly to permit said housing to be moved downwardly to selected positions along said post solely by the application of a downward force on said housing greater than the bias of said second spring means.

17. In a bed having upwardly extending sides and a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, apparatus comprising: a longitudinally, vertically extending post fixed with the bed and having a plurality of outwardly facing, downwardly inclined grooves in one surface, a housing supported on said post for movement to selected ones of said grooves and having means for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement downwardly along said post and for loosening said shroud upon movement upwardly, said housing having an upwardly extending, outwardly inclined first cam surface, a pawl pivotally supported on said housing and having a tooth portion matably engageable with said grooves for locking said housing and said post together, first spring means urging said pawl toward said post and into engagement with said grooves, second spring means for urging said housing upwardly and hence for urging said tooth portion against a mating surface of said grooves, 21 release arm movably supported on said housing, a cam member secured to said release arm and engageable with said first cam surface for movement therealong in response to movement of said release :arm, said pawl having a second cam surface engageable by said cam member and extending between said first cam surface and said post whereby movement of said release arm upwardly moves said cam member along said first cam surfac and along said second cam surface for urging said pawl outwardly out of engagement with said grooves, said release arm having a generally horizontal shoulder at its outer end, a lock member slidably supported on said housing for movement into and out of blocking relation with said shoulder whereby said release arm cannot be actuated until sa-id lock member has been moved out of blocking relation.

18. In a bed having upwardly extending sides and a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, apparatus comprising: a longitudinally, vertically extending post fixed with the bed and having a pluralty of outwardly facing, downwardly inclined grooves in one surface, a housing supported on said post for movement to selected ones of said grooves and having means for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement downwardly along said post and for loosening said shroud upon movement upwardly, said housing having an upwardly extending, outwardly inclined first cam surface, a pawl pivotally supported on said housing and having a tooth portion matably engageable with said grooves for locking said housing and said post together, first spring means urging said pawl toward said post and into engagement with said grooves, second spring means for urging said housing upwardly and hence for urging said tooth portion against a mating surface of said grooves, a release arm movably supported on said housing, a cam member secured to said release arm and engageable with said first cam surface for movement therealong in response to movement of said release arm, said pawl having a second cam surface engageable by said cam member and extending between said first cam surface and said post whereby movement of said release arm upwardly moves said cam member along said first cam surface and along said second cam surface for urging said pawl outwardly out of engagement with said grooves, said release arm having a generally horizontal shoulder at its outer end, a lock member slidably supported on said housing for movement into and out of blocking relation with said shoulder whereby said release arm cannot be actuated until said lock member has been moved out of blocking relation, and means for resiliently urging said lock member into blocking relation.

19. In a bed having upwardly extending sides and a shroud for enclosing the top of the bed over the top of the sides, apparatus comprising; a longitudinally, vertically extending post fixed with the bed and having a plurality of outwardly facing, downwardly inclined grooves in one surface, a housing supported on said post for movement to selected ones of said grooves and having means for engaging said shroud and tensioning said shroud upon movement downwardly along said post and for loosening said shroud upon movement upwardly, said housing having an upwardly extending, outwardly inclined first cam surface, a pawl pivotally supported on said housing and having a tooth portion matably engageable with said grooves for locking said housing and said post together, first spring means urging said pawl toward said post and into engagement with said grooves, second spring means for urging said housing upwardly and hence for urging said tooth portion against a mating surface of said grooves, a release arm movably supported on said housing, a cam member secured to said release arm and engageable with said first cam surface for movement therealong in response to movement of said release arm, said pawl having a second cam surface engageable by said cam member and extending between said first cam surface and said post whereby movment of said release arm upwardly moves said cam member along said first cam surface and along said second cam surface for urging said pawl outwardly out of engagement with said grooves, said release arm having a generally horizontal shoulder at its outer end, a lock member slidably supported on said housing for movement into and out of blocking relation with said shoulder whereby said release arm cannot be actuated until said lock member has been moved out of blocking relation, a pivot arm pivotally supported on said housing and having said lock member secured at is free end, and a spring member resiliently urging said pivot member rearwardly and hence urging said lock member into blocking relation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,781,523 2/1957 Scott 5-97 X 2,802,248 8/ 1957 Wallace 2468 3,099,055 7/1963 Huber 24836'1 X 3,145,396 8/1964 Zindell 597 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR A BED HAVING UPWARDLY EXTENDING SIDES COMPRISING: A SHROUD FOR ENCLOSING THE TOP OF THE BED OVER THE TOP OF THE SIDES, FIRST MEANS OPERATIVELY FIXED WITH THE BED, SECOND MEANS SUPPORTED ON SAID FIRST MEANS FOR SELECTIVE MOVEMENT ON SAID FIRST MEANS TO SELECTED POSITIONS BETWEEN A FIRST AND A SECOND POSITION AND FOR ENGAGING SAID SHROUD AND TENSIONING SAID SHROUD UPON MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID FIRST POSITION AND FOR LOOSENING SAID SHROUD UPON MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID SECOND POSITION, AND LOCK MEANS HAVING ONE SELECTABLE CONDITION FOR LOCKING SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEANS TOGETHER AT SAID SELECTED POSITIONS AND A SECOND SELECTABLE CONDITION FOR RELEASING SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEANS FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT. 